[Federal Register: September 2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 170)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48231]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se99-122]                         


[[Page 48231]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5461; Notice 2]

 
Grant of Application for Determination of Inconsequential 
Noncompliance With Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, Lamps, 
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment

    General Motors Corporation (GM) determined that some GM 1997 EV1 
electric passenger cars fail to meet the turn signal requirements of 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108--Lamps, 
reflective devices and associated equipment. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 
30118 and 30120, GM applied to us for a decision that the noncompliance 
is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. In accordance with 49 CFR 
556.4(b)(6), GM also submitted a 49 CFR part 573 noncompliance 
notification to the agency.
    We published notice of receipt of application in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 22897) on April 28, 1999. Opportunity was afforded for 
comments until May 28, 1999, but none were received.
    GM stated that the EV1 is equipped with an electronic turn signal 
module that controls turn signal operation. A subset of the module 
population can be affected by random inputs that cause the internal 
timing of the electronic circuit to become un-synchronized. If this 
occurs, it can cause the left turn signal circuit on affected vehicles 
to operate improperly and not be in compliance with FMVSS No. 108. The 
left front turn signal lamp may flash at a rapid rate while the left 
rear turn signal lamp illuminates but does not flash. These conditions 
can continue after the turn signal lever automatically returns to the 
off position, but stop if the driver manually cancels the turn signal 
or turns the ignition off. The right turn signal is not affected.
    GM believes that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety for these reasons:
    <bullet> The potential for this condition is confined to a very 
small population of vehicles, 558.
    <bullet> The condition is not found on every vehicle. Only a subset 
of vehicles is affected, based on the build variation of the turn 
signal module.
    <bullet> GM knows of only eight customers who have reported the 
condition. The turn signal module in these vehicles has been replaced.
    <bullet> While GM has not been able to determine the exact 
percentage of affected vehicles (the anomaly is not readily repeatable 
in the laboratory, and the small production run has severely limited 
the number of parts available for testing), the likelihood of 
experiencing the condition is extremely rare. The worst case part, 
found in laboratory testing, exhibited the anomaly 16 times in 40,000 
cycles (0.0004 times per cycle). Other tested parts did not exhibit the 
condition as often, or at all.
    <bullet> The left turn signal does not fail completely. An oncoming 
driver would see the front turn signal flashing at a rapid rate. A 
following driver would see the left turn signal lamp on, although it 
would not be flashing. Both of these results are similar to a vehicle 
that has a burned-out turn signal lamp.
    <bullet> Like a vehicle with a burned out lamp, a driver 
experiencing this condition is alerted that the turn signal system is 
not functioning properly because the turn signal indicator light does 
not flash.
    <bullet> A turn signal with this condition does not self-cancel, 
but it can easily be canceled manually.
    <bullet> GM knows of no crashes or injuries associated with this 
condition.
    We have concluded that the few vehicles affected by this 
noncompliance, as well as the fact that the turn signals show the 
driver that they have failed, warrant a finding that this noncompliance 
is inconsequential with regard to motor vehicle safety.
    In consideration of the foregoing, we have decided that the 
applicant has met its burden of persuasion that the noncompliance 
described above is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. 
Accordingly, its application is granted, and GM is exempted from 
providing the notification of the noncompliance required by 49 U.S.C. 
30118, and remedy, required by 49 CFR 30120.

(49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 
and 501.8)

    Issued on: August 30, 1999.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-22919 Filed 9-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P